If Someone Dies in San Bernardino County Custody: What Families Should Expect
If your loved one dies while in San Bernardino County custody, you'll likely end up dealing with the San Bernardino County Coroner Division. Here's what that office can and cannot do, who to contact, and what timelines and fees families commonly run into.
The San Bernardino County Coroner Division investigates deaths that fall under the Coroner's jurisdiction, including homicide, suicide, accident, or unknown circumstances. When a death falls within that jurisdiction, there is no charge for the autopsy.
You can reach the San Bernardino County Coroner Division through Captain Joe Janowicz at 175 South Lena Road, San Bernardino, CA 92415. The phone number is (909) 387-2978, and the fax number is (909) 387-2989.
- ✓ Coroner lobby hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- ✓ Mortuary release hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- ✓ No mortuary releases on holidays
After hours: Call (909) 387-2978. A Sheriff's dispatcher will answer and can connect you to a Coroner Investigator for urgent matters.
The Coroner Division does not allow family visitation and has no viewing facility. If you need to see your loved one or arrange transport from the Coroner's office, you'll need to contact a mortuary or funeral home of your choice to handle that.
The Coroner does not issue death certificates. You'll need to go through the mortuary or funeral home handling your loved one's arrangements to request one.
Final cause-of-death determinations can take a while, especially when the Coroner is waiting on toxicology or histology results. San Bernardino County notes that this process averages six months to one year, depending on the complexity of the case and what testing is needed before the autopsy report is finalized.
If the death falls within the Coroner's jurisdiction (homicide, suicide, accident, or unknown circumstances), there is no charge for the autopsy. If the case falls outside the Coroner's jurisdiction and the legal next-of-kin requests a private autopsy, the listed charge is $3,734.00, payable by cashier's check or money order.
There may also be a county transportation fee when a deceased person is moved from the scene or a hospital to the Coroner's facility. The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors set this fee at $348.00.
- Call the main Coroner number (909) 387-2978.
- Tell the dispatcher it is urgent. After business hours, this number reaches a Sheriff’s dispatcher.
- Ask to speak to a Coroner Investigator. The dispatcher can connect you for urgent after-hours matters.
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